Chain-head, descaling auger



Oct. 10, 1939. w. D. OSBORN 2,175,406

CHAIN-HEAD, DESCALING AUGER Filed Aug. 51. less /777)@ 71507, i 0530770 Q h as to be highly efiective in scale removal.

Patented Oct. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE-J" 3 Claims.

This invention is a chain-head auger for use in breaking down accretions in various fluid conduits, and more especially for de-scaling the bore surface of sewer or other earth-embedded pipe lines.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a de-scaling tool provided with a rotary system of centrifugally impactive beating blocks so combined, constructed and arranged in the tool Further an object is to provide chained impacting blocks having a limited degree of radial motion as to a central driver so that the tool may be employed for rapid rotary operation in clay or cement pipe lines Without danger of injury thereto by centrifugal impact of the hammer blocks.

Furthermore, an object of the invention is to provide a rotary chain head auger incorporating a power drive for effecting desired rotation of the head by power from a remote point, and the auger, per se, including means having the function of positively effecting the automatic advance axially of the tool due to resistance of liquid, mud or other inert material in which the head may be operating while effecting the descaling function. In other words an object is to provide a de-scaling auger including a propeller device which, when rotated in a relative inert liquid or other resistive material or muck in the passageway, will cause the tool to axially advance.

Additionally, an object is to provide a chain head auger of simple, substantial and highly practical construction.

The invention consists in certain advancements in this art as set forth in the ensuing disclosure and having, with the above, additional purposes and advantages as hereinafter developed, and whose construction, combinations, and details of means, and the manner of operation will be made manifest in the description of the hereinillustrated embodiment; it being understood that modifications, variations and adaptations may be resorted to within the spirit, scope and principle of the invention as it is more directly claimed hereinbelow.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the tool as in operation in a pipe or sewer line, which is in axial section.

Figure 2 is a leading-end elevation of the tool as in operation in a pipe.

The tool as here shown is designed for lefthand rotation, Fig. l, by means of a length of flexible, drive rod 2 connected by a coupling 3 to the near end of a stiif, axial shaft 4 of suitable length. In any suitable spaced relation along the shaft 4 there is arranged a series of wheel rims 5, preferably hard-faced for durability, and of a diameter to well clear the bore surface of a given sewer or other pipe line S. It is a feature of this invention that the shaft and its rims 5 shall be automatically axially advanced in the bore during operation without push or pull effect by the rotating, power rod 2, when the tool is performing its de-scaling function.

To that end, the rims 5 are attached to the shaft 4 by spokes 6, of suitable number, and all of generally uniform helical pitch to act as propeller blades when rotating in water or other resistive substance present in the passageway in which the tool is being rotated; the spokes thus constituting a means to efiect axial propulsion of the tool without push or pull effort by the drive rod 2.

For the purpose of breaking down various incrustations incidental to the use of the pipe line S, in one or another service or industry, centrifugal impact devices are movably attached to the several rims 5 of the tool. An object is to provide impact hammers having but a short linier stroke capacity from their point of attachment with a carrying part of the tool so that the force of their impact will not be hard enough to crack or break pipe line made of clay or cement, or the like. The impact devices are here shown as comprising more or less cubical blocks 8 each hitched by a short, flexible connection or chain 9 from the bottom or inner face of each block to a relative eye I0 fixed to the tool rim 5; the plane of the eye ID, of each block 8, and the relation of the connection 9 being such with the respective block as to hold the latter with one corner (a) in an advanced or raking position, Fig. l, with respect to the direction of rotation of the tool.

As each rim 5 is provided with a series of equally spaced blocks 8 having about an equal radial throw capacity it will be seen that when the tool is rotated by the rod 2 at a suitable speed the blocks will automatically assume a limited outer position in an orbit about the shaft 4 and will act automatically to centralize the shaft 4 in the bore. The orbitally sweeping blocks 8 will gradually cut down and break up the bore incrustations by impact and at the same time the sweep of the propeller blades or spokes 6 will plow into loose or inert material present in the passageway and act to automatically advance the tool axially. It will be noticed that the linkage connection between the blocks 8 and the relative rim 5 will allow a desirable free tumbling action of the blocks, not available in a stifi pivoted lever-arm hammer device.

What is claimed is:

1. A rotary, de-scaling tool for conduit bores, having a rotary shaft, centrifugal impact devices connected to and whirled by the shaft, and screw means spaced from the conduit and engageable with free material in the bore to effect an automatic advance of the tool in the bore.

2. A rotary, centrifugal-impact, de-scaling tool having a propeller device for reaction on free material in a bore to effect automatic axial advance of the tool and centrifugal impact hammers orbitally whirled concurrently with rotation of said device.

3. A rotary de-scaling tool for conduit bores and including a rotary shaft having a head structure provided with orbital-swung, centrifugal breakers and having a propeller wheel to reactionally engage free material in a bore to axially advance the tool while in de-scaling action.

WILLIAM D. OSBORN. 

